A full plane, early this morning from Chattanooga to Charlotte! And as nearly always, I was in the rear, but I did get my window seat!

Yes, before dawn this morning we were up … driving to the Chattanooga Airport! Where I caught a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina … connecting to Jacksonville, Florida. To preach three Sermons at the Saint Augustine Road Baptist Church here. Brother Harper Bumpers is the good Pastor here.

Would you mind a few pictures?

When flying, I love to look for other aircraft in the sky. Here’s the vapor trail of a westbound airliner early this morning. I made the photo from 22,000 feet, so he’s at least at 35,000, I would say.

See the coast, the Atlantic? Our flight (from Charlotte) into Jacksonville was out over the ocean for quite a while. Amazing machines, indeed!

And when flying I always try to have a book handy, too. Today I have been studying for a new Series on the Flood, Genesis 6-9, the Lord willing.

Oh, I was about to forget to tell you. Sunday night, the Lord willing, I will have the honor of once again preaching at the Grace Baptist Church in Baldwin, Florida. Where Brother Dewayne Jowers is the good Pastor.

Pray for these Meetings, please.

Tomorrow morning I plan to resume our Joshua Lessons.

I just couldn’t get it all done today!

I’m writing you now from a nice motel room (Hampton Inn) not for from the Church.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I sure do not want to disappoint anyone eager to study God’s Word!

 

(If someone enjoys this little diversion, please let me know.)

 

Joshua chapter 9 … records one of the most deceptive plots ever employed upon Israel. A tribal people, the Gibeonites (who were wicked Canaanites slated for destruction) were also known as Hivites, according to verse 7 of our chapter. See Exodus 34:11 for God’s “will” concerning these people: “Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the HIVITE, and the Jebusite.” Add Deuteronomy 7:2 here as well: “And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them (including the Hivites, the Gibeonites) before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt MAKE NO COVENANT with them, nor shew mercy unto them.”

Well, apparently these Gibeonites/Hivites fell under the “fear of the Lord!” And subsequently devised a plan to “spare” their own lives! (The city of Gibeon was near Ai and no more than five miles from Jerusalem! Yet the inhabitants of that place met Joshua and the Jews and “acted” as if they were from far, far away!)

They “marched” those very few miles to Joshua and said/lied: “We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.” The word used for “league” (in Hebrew beriyth”) is the same word as “covenant,” a strong word of “bond!” A genuine commitment, far more significant than a mere “contract” even!

This is a dangerous situation for Israel!

The enemy portraying himself as a friend!

Yet verse 3 says: “The inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,” again this is the Fear of the Lord, folks! These words are similar to those of Rahab earlier in the Book!

Anyway … verse 15 tells us more: “And Joshua MADE PEACE WITH THEM, and MADE A LEAGUE with them, to LET THEM LIVE: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.” Based on the false evidence the Gibeonites presented.

Looks like here … Joshua made a mistake!

Peace with a Canaanite people!

But if I am right … surely Scripture will give at least a “hint” that Joshua and his cabinet may have erred a bit! (Something we seldom read of that great Warrior, Joshua the Son of Nun.)

Now notice with me Joshua 9:14 … “And the men (Joshua and his advisors) took of their victuals (food that had been made to look old and mouldy), and ASKED NOT COUNSEL AT THE MOUTH OF THE LORD.”

They made a treaty with evil people … and did not seek God’s Counsel anytime during the whole process!

Wow!

Numbers 27:21, written specifically for Joshua, taught: “And he (Joshua) shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ASK COUNSEL for him after the judgment of Urim BEFORE THE LORD … AT HIS (GOD’S) WORD THEY SHALL GO OUT, and AT HIS WORD THEY SHALL COME IN, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”

Seeking God’s “Will” in all we do!

Anyone reading here about to make a decision?

About to make some significant change in life?

Just met a new “friend?”

A “job” situation?

“Church” decision?

FIRST … before anything else you do … seek the Mind of the Lord in that matter at hand!

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Though those words from Proverbs had not yet been written in Joshua’s day … the truth they represent existed!

Joshua had a clear avenue of approaching God … of seeking His Guidance … but in this (Gibeonite) situation, he obviously acted too hastily!

May we learn from his mistake!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Reading the Word of God!

How important that single activity is in the life of a Believer!

“Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings. And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel. And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.” Joshua 8:30-35, don’t “skip” reading this “Bible” paragraph, please. It’s the “heart” of today’s Lesson!

This is a congregational meeting, “all Israel” being in attendance.

The altar is build here by precise (Mosaic Law) specifications.

The “blessing” the Priests pronounced, be sure, was word-for-word what God had commanded them to say!

Then came the READING of the Word!

“And he (Joshua) read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was NOT A WORD of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.”

No wonder Paul, so many years later, was still commanding his younger Preachers … “Give attendance to reading.” 1 Timothy 4:13

There’s Power in that Book, the divinely inspired Word of God.

In fact, let me ask you to read some therein today!

And the Lord willing, more tomorrow.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Doctor’s appointment this morning. I may write more later today, concerning this lesson. To fill in the “gaps,” to add supplemental Scripture. To further share  my heart. I must study for a Revival Sermon tonight as well. That’s why I say “I may write more.”

 

I noticed this earlier today, just reading Joshua chapters 7 and 8.

Israel had just been defeated in battle, a rarity indeed!

Thirty-six soldiers, Jews, had died in the attack on a little city named Ai. (We later learned such a tragedy was due to “sin” in the camp. A man named Achan had stolen some cursed objects and kept them for himself!)

But now to the logistics of the Battle … and the point of today’s Lesson.

In the first skirmish against Ai (a heathen, sinful city for sure) Israel only fielded 3,000 soldiers, based on previous recon reports, reconnaissance. “And they (the spies) returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. So there went up thither of the people about THREE THOUSAND men.” Joshua 7:3-4

And she (Israel) lost … as I’ve just said, due to sin, thirty-six military funerals, needlessly held!

Once that sin had been (thoroughly) confessed and judgment executed … Israel would live to fight another day! (The sad story of Achan and his death by stoning.)

Then the Lord commanded Joshua to attack Ai yet a second time! So, Joshua obeyed, one of the chief characteristics of that great leader’s life, “instant obedience” to His Commander-in-Chief!

But instead of just three thousand men … Joshua involved the whole army this time! Several hundreds of thousands of soldiers! (Just slightly more than 600,000 to be a little more precise!)

Wow!

And they (with the Lord’s Hand upon them) won the victory … this time!

Again, what’s the point today?

If on a certain occasion you do not achieve a (spiritual) victory, if the enemy (devil) overcomes you in a battle … REGROUP AND HIT HIM AGAIN  … WITH (FAR) MORE POWER AND STRENGTH AND (SPIRITUAL) WEAPONRY!

Go from 3,000 soldiers (I speak metaphorically, symbolically) to 600,000 soldiers!

In other words …

Pray more!

Read God’s Word more!

Memorize verses, more than ever!

Live right, more godly than in all your Christian days!

And the Lord just might give you the victory, as he did Joshua and all Israel!

In a line … TRY HARDER!

Be more and more filled with the Holy Spirit!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Surely, enough has been said.

 

Talk about a “community” mindset!

Read these two verses, the next increment in Joshua’s Saga, Holy Spirit inspired! “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.” Joshua 7:1

The whole Nation (“the children of Israel”) sinned, and was held accountable by Almighty God … because one man (“Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the Tribe of Judah”) stole some (forbidden) things!

Amazing!

And Israel (the whole Nation) lost the next battle, their first defeat in the Conquest of Canaan, because of this (one) man’s trespass!

In fact, 36 innocent Jewish soldiers died … because God withdrew His Presence, because of Achan’s selfish disobedience!

Verse 5 of Joshua 7 … “And the men of Ai SMOTE (KILLED) of them about THIRTY AND SIX men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.”

Get verses 11 and 12, God’s Rationale: “And the LORD said unto Joshua, ISRAEL HATH SINNED, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for THEY have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and THEY have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because THEY were accursed: NEITHER WILL I BE WITH YOU ANY MORE, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”

One man’s sin … a whole Nation’s guilt!

And in the same sense, then … the sins of one City (Las Vegas or San Francisco or Atlanta or New York) could be a detriment to ALL of America!

This too I would add. The sins (either hidden … or known and allowed) in any given Church (though Bible believing, mind you) COULD retard the spiritual blessings of God on the whole congregation!

Not just COULD … WOULD!

DOES!

Something to think about this Monday morning, for sure!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Read again our Text today … “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.” Joshua 7:1